Clinic Embedded HIV Engagement Specialist

Requisition #: 49008

Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8AM – 5PM

Onsite or Hybrid: Onsite

Full-time/Contract: Contract Position until 02/2027. 

Bilingual (English/Spanish): Not Required

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direct supervision of the Data to Care (D2C) Program Manager, The Clinic Embedded HIV Engagement Specialist (CEHES) is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating patient outreach, engagement, and re-engagement activities to successfully link patients living with HIV (PLWH) to needed medical care. The CEHES collaborates with their fellow CEHES colleague, The D2C Program Manager, and the D2C Data Analyst, to identify APLA Health patients who are eligible for D2C services, and to track outcomes of outreach and engagement efforts. 

The D2C program is a Los Angeles County funded 3-year pilot program to inform future HIV planning and care.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines Data to Care (D2C) as “a public health strategy that uses HIV surveillance data, pharmacy fill data, clinic appointment data, and other treatment and care data sources to identify persons with HIV who are not in care, link those not in care to appropriate medical and social services, and ultimately support the HIV Care Continuum”.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate a patient retention intervention aimed at finding out of care PLWHA

• Work with key clinic staff in locating out of care patients by conducting outreach services to PLWHA that have fallen out of HIV medical care.

• Assist in the coordination and delivery of patient-centered activities that focus on addressing health status, engagement and retention in care.

• Connect patients to services that assist with resolving socioeconomic challenges.

• Networks, develops strong, productive relationships of transparency and trust with community agencies and organizations, and key stakeholders to establish referral linkages.

• Enters and maintains program data, including clinical documentation and reporting forms

• Develop and implement client identification and engagement strategy;

• Conduct outreach, including in-person field and home visits with clients;

• Conduct regular communication with clients to establish rapport and support clients;

• Coordinate referral and linkage to medical care, Medical Care Coordination and support services.

• Tracks engagement and retention in medical care.

• Document steps taken to help the client maintain access to HIV medical care.

• Responds to patient inquiries in a prompt manner.

• Provide HIV education, inclusive of treatment education.

• Enter progress notes in client-level database systems regarding disposition of clients, referrals, changes of address, telephone information, case manager assignment, etc.

• Assure client confidentiality as defined by APLA policy and procedures.

• Contact appropriate professionals to assist in the determination of need and/or eligibility for services.

• Monitor referrals and follow-up on those requiring additional advocacy.

• Attends staff meetings, D2C meetings (to review and evaluate program services, and make recommendations for program improvement), case conferencing and other meetings as required.

• Attend regularly scheduled in-services, as well as outside conferences, and workshops to expand capacity to meet program goals and objectives.

• Provide written and statistical reports as needed.

• Effectively communicate with clients/patients in English and Spanish as required per aforementioned job duties.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS.

REQUIREMENTS:

Training and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent social science degree;

and at least one year of experience caring for LGBTQIA+ PLWH;

-OR

High school diploma, or high school diploma equivalency (e.g., demonstrated experience or certification as a health educator, demonstrated experience providing HIV health education, and/or relevant lived experience); and at least three years of experience caring for LGBTQIA+ PLWH.

Knowledge of:

• Experience in a nonprofit environment and specific training/experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to advocate for individuals who may not share basic commonalities, including value systems and behavior norms.
• Ability to provide service to individuals with diverse economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
• Experience providing crisis intervention.
• Bilingual required – English/Spanish.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is primarily a field-based hybrid position with some office hours that requires only occasional bending, reaching, stooping, lifting and moving of office materials weighing 25 pounds or less. The position requires daily use of a personal computer and requires entering, viewing, and revising text and graphics on the computer terminal and on paper.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess a valid California driver’s license; proof of auto liability insurance; and have the use of a personal vehicle for work related purposes.

COVID vaccination and booster required or medical/religious exemption.

Equal Opportunity Employer.